Preschool Policies & Procedures/Parent Handbookstorage.cloversites.com/rayofhopechristian... · Preschool Policies & Procedures/Parent Handbook Ray of Hope Preschool The following

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Preschool Policies & Procedures/Parent Handbook

Ray of Hope Preschool

The following is a comprehensive listing of Ray of Hope Preschool’s Policies and

Procedures. If you have any questions regarding any of the policies or procedures

listed here, please contact us at (502) 543-1857.

This document is divided into sections as shown below:

Services Description

Communication

Enrollment Policy

Tuition/Payment

Procedures

Bounced Checks

Late Fees

Hours of Operation

Arrival & Departures

Signing In/Out

Attendance

Holidays/Vacations

Clothing/Attire

Personal Belongings

Supplies

Preschool Schedule

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Snacks

Cleanliness/Hygiene

Fire Drills

Toilet Training

Special Needs

Parental Involvement

Training & Development

Activities/Curriculum

Preschool Rules

Reporting Child Abuse/Sexual Abuse Requirements

Indoor/Outdoor Play

Discipline

Illness

Medications

Incident Report

Medical Emergencies

Termination Policies

Revisions & Contract

Services Description

● Classroom may serve up to 11 children ● Preschool may be available to 4 year olds (potty-trained)

exceptions are to the complete discretion of staff/director. ● Comprehensive education curriculum which includes a variety of

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learning experiences, hands-on activities ● Children attend Monday-Friday, 8:50 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ● There will be a daily snack time. Snacks are to be provided by

parents and sent with child (No items that need to be heated or reheating). Snacks that parents send must consist of the following: Protein (milk, cheese, or meat), Bread/Grain (bread, graham crackers, goldfish, or saltines, etc.), Fruit/Veggie

● With current staff available, we do not offer Disability programs or admission for students with severe disabilities that would require additional staff support

● Referral system in place for student and/or family needs

Communication

Good communication is of the utmost importance. When a new family is

accepted into our Preschool, we like to be sure that we can share openly

about any concerns or questions that may arise. It is important that there is a

similar child care philosophy between the center and the parents. We

welcome questions, feedback, or discussions of any kind that are oriented

towards a positive outcome for the child(ren). Sensitive issues will be

discussed in private at a mutually beneficial time. Preschool Phone: (502)

543-1857. Preschool Email: [email protected]

Enrollment Policy

There are several forms that make up the Ray of Hope Preschool Student

Application Packet. This enrollment packet must be completed and in our

possession before we can assume the responsibility of caring for your child.

This is to ensure that your child will get the very best care possible and

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satisfies the record keeping requirement of state licensing guidelines. All

forms will be reviewed annually. If there are changes to any of the forms in

the enrollment packet, please notify your director to update your records.

If you have any questions regarding the completion of these forms, please

feel free to ask your director.

Registration Fee: There is a $50 Non-Refundable registration fee per family

at time of enrollment. If you terminate Preschool admission and are gone

more than 60 days and wish to return to Ray of Hope Preschool, you must

pay a $25 re-application fee.

Last week security deposit: Each parent when enrolling must pay an amount

equal to one week’s preschool as a last week security deposit. This payment

may be made in installments but must be paid in full within 30 days of

enrolling.

Tuition / Payment Procedures

Your specific rates will be outlined in your Student Application and Policies

& Procedures Agreement Form. Tuition is payable in advance and is due no

later than Noon, the 15th of each month. If the 15

th occurs during the

weekend, then payment will be due the Friday, prior to the 15th, by noon,

unless another arrangement has been agreed upon. Payment may be made by

check or cash. There will be a late fee of $15 for failure to pay by Closing on

the 15th

of each month. An additional $10 (total $25) late fee will be assessed

if not paid by closing time on the following school day. Repeated late

payments may be grounds for termination and parents who are more than 2

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weeks late on payment will be denied Preschool services until account is

made current. We ask you to consider how you would feel if your employer

came to you on your expected payday and told you that your paycheck would

be delayed?

The success of our Preschool depends upon the prompt payment of

tuition/fees in order to take care of day-to-day expenses that are encountered.

Tuition and fees are computed with the following factors in mind:

● Health supplies, craft/activity/curriculum supplies, toys, computers,

play equipment and books provided for the children

● Outside play equipment

● Employees' Social Security, Medicare, Workers Compensation,

Unemployment Compensation and employee benefits

● Employees' continuing education

● Employee wages and benefits

● Building heat, electricity, telephone, maintenance, and liability

insurance

● Additional time spent, each day, on record keeping, parent-provider

communication; clean up from day care, and shopping trips for

Preschool supplies

Parent Vacation: If occurring during school-year (we go by the Bullitt

County School Calendar), you must continue to pay your tuition on your

vacation to hold your Preschool spot.

Bounced Checks

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If a check is returned for non-sufficient funds, there will be a $30 fee

incurred as a result of the returned check. Preschool services may be halted

until full payment of tuition and NSF charges has been made, in CASH. In

addition, upon the second returned check within 6 months, only cash will be

accepted for 3 months.

Late Fees

A $1.50 per minute late pickup fee will be assessed for all children picked up

after closing, at 12:30. This must be paid in cash at the time of pickup, or

before the child’s next regularly scheduled day. This will be strictly enforced,

and habitual tardiness may result in termination of services.

Hours of Operation

We offer 3-hour preschool, with an additional half hour built in for a snack

time. We will open our doors at 8:50 am, with class beginning promptly at

9:00 am. The extra 10 minutes is given to allow parents time to sign in their

child. Student pick up will be at 12:30. Doors will be locked during the

school day for the safety of our students and staff. If you are arriving late,

you will need to call when you arrive to be let in. Habitual late arrival may

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cause termination of student admission.

We maintain an open door policy for parents during Preschool hours. This

means that parents are always welcome to call or drop in to see their children

(MUST call to schedule). We would appreciate your taking into

consideration our schedule when dropping in or calling, and remember that

visitors usually cause children to react in an excited manner. If you call

during the day, please be aware that we may be busy with students and may

not be able to answer the phone. If you would leave a message, we will call

you back as soon as possible.

Arrival and Departures

Children are to arrive clean and fed (as we do NOT provide meals). We will

try our best to send your student home clean, and would appreciate the same

consideration when you drop them off.

It is normal for some students to have difficulty separating from parents, or

cry when dropping off. Please make your drop off brief, the longer you

prolong the departure, the harder it gets. A smile, cheerful good-bye kiss, and

a reassuring word that you will be back is all that is needed. In our

experience, children are nearly always quick to get involved in play or

activities as soon as parents are gone.

Please be brief at pick-up times, as well. This is a time of testing, when two

different authority figures are present (the parent and the teachers). All

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children will test to see if the rules still apply. During arrival and departure,

we expect parents to back up our rules. Please be in control of your child

during pick up times.

Please leave your cell phones in your car/off, so that the director, teachers

and your child will have your undivided attention at pick up or drop off time.

This allows for easy and clear communication for all, at this sometimes

hurried time of day.

Our normal procedure is to release the child only to his/her parents, or

someone else the parents designate on the Authorized Pick up and

Emergency Contact Form. If someone other than the parent is to pick up the

child, please notify us ahead of time. A verbal notice is fine on that day, if

this person is on the list of people who are authorized to pick up your child. If

the person is NOT on that list, we MUST have written permission to release

your child. Please inform emergency contacts, or people designated to pick

up your child, that if we do not know them then we will need to ask for

identification. This is not meant to offend them. This is simply a measure

taken for the child's protection. Drop off and pick up are not good times to

discuss serious problems. Little ears and minds hear and understand

everything. Your director can set up a time where the issues can be discussed

in private.

Sign In / Out

It is required that all parents/guardians sign their child in and out each day.

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For your convenience, a sign in/out sheet, pen, and a clock are located by the

door, this gives us a written record of the child's attendance, hours, and the

person who brought/picked up the child each day.

Attendance

Ray of Hope Preschool keeps track of attendance and absenteeism.

A. At Ray of Hope Preschool:

(i) The children are expected to attend school regularly, unless they

are ill. A daily attendance record is kept by classroom staff and

the program Director. These attendance records will be reported

weekly to the Program Director; if there is a specific absenteeism

circumstance or problem, it will be reported immediately or as

soon as possible to the Program Director. A copy of attendance

records will be given to the Program Director monthly. After a

child is absent for three consecutive days, the classroom staff, or

Program Director will call the family regarding the child’s school

attendance (if the program has not already been otherwise

notified).

(ii) If the absences are a result of illness or if they are well

documented absences for other reasons, no special action is

required. If, however, the absences result from other factors,

including temporary family problems that affect a child's regular

attendance, staff will take necessary steps to help child make up

for missed lessons, including home visits and or providing

students and families with updates on the learning going on in the

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classroom and materials for learning and practicing lessons.

B. Ray of Hope Preschool Attendance Policy:

After four consecutive days of absence, a home visit or second

phone call will be made by the classroom staff or Program director

concerning the child’s continued absences. A child with five

consecutive unexcused absences may be withdrawn from the

program. If a child’s absence is due to family problems, assistance

is provided to the family by the Preschool if needed or a referral is

made to another service agency. Follow up measures are taken to

ensure that the family problems have been resolved. Records of the

family contact (phone calls or home visits) are made by the

classroom staff or Program Director. Referrals are also documented

and kept in the child’s folder.

(i) Ray of Hope Preschool Attendance Policy-Excused Absences

a. A child is hospitalized.

b. A child is incapacitated due to a serious illness or injury.

c. A child contracts a communicable disease or contagious

condition.

d. A child has other health ailments which temporarily affects

attendance, such as asthma.

e. There is a death in the child’s family.

f. A child cannot attend class because he or she has to receive

medical treatment or therapy at the time when the class is being

held.

g. The child’s attendance is affected by a temporary family

situation.

C. In circumstances where chronic absenteeism persists and it does not

seem feasible to include the child in the program, the child's slot

may be considered an enrollment vacancy and child may be

removed from the program.

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Holidays / Vacations

We will be adhering to the Bullitt County Public School Calendar (see

attached) and inclement weather closings/delays. If BCPS’s have a 2-hour

delay, our preschool will be closed. However, we will be open if there is a 1

hour delay, on the delayed schedule, starting 1 hour later.

Clothing / Attire

Children should arrive dressed for play. We like to have fun! Having fun

involves indoor & outdoor play and lots of messy activities, so make sure

that your child is dressed appropriately. You will be expected to supply an art

smock (can also be a large t-shirt) to protect clothes from paint or other art

materials as much as possible. Please don't dress your child in nice clothing

and expect them to be spotless when you arrive to pick them up. Clothing

should be comfortable and seasonally appropriate for outdoor play. Make

sure to include hats, mittens, boots and coats for cold weather.

Personal Belongings

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We prefer that children do not bring toys from home unless it is something

that can be shared with the entire group (i.e. books, videos, etc.). Little ones

have a difficult time sharing with others, and it is even harder with their own

special toys. If toys are brought, please note that they may be put away, if

they are the cause of disagreements among the children. Exceptions to this

policy will be that a child may bring a favorite toy for show and tell

activities. We are not responsible for any loss or breakage of personal items.

All personal items must be clearly marked with the student’s name.

Supplies

Parents must supply the following items to be kept in their cubby/hook:

● Backpack (none with wheels)

● Folder (for communication & important papers)

● Spare outfit in case of damaged/soiled clothing

● Daily Snacks, in a bag/lunch box (none that are required to be

refrigerated or heated). Snacks that parents send must consist of the

following: Protein (milk, cheese, or meat), Bread/Grain (bread, graham

crackers, goldfish, or saltines, etc.), Fruit/Veggie. If their snack

requires eating utensils/dishes, you must provide DISPOSABLE ones

in their bag/box.

All personal belongings should be marked with your child's name.

Donations help us keep costs down, so if you have any of the following

items on hand and are willing to donate them, it would be greatly

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appreciated. This is NOT mandatory.

● Dress up clothing, costumes, jewelry, hats, etc.

● Paper of any kind, brown, white, colored, waxed, foil, etc.

● Crayons, water color paints, or any misc. art supplies, such as fabric

scraps, glitter, pipe cleaners, paper plates, etc.

● IDEAS! We welcome any ideas that you may have for fun activities or

crafts!!!

Preschool Schedule

Preschoolers enjoy a structured schedule that allows for flexibility. A

schedule helps the day to flow more smoothly and allows the children to

anticipate upcoming events. We will adhere to our written schedule to the

best of our ability. There will be times when we have to make adjustments to

the schedule. We appreciate families considering our schedule when picking

up or dropping off children.

We thank you for the information you filled out for us regarding your

preschooler's individual needs. It will help us get to know your child better.

Our daily schedule, while very flexible, is as follows: 8:50- a.m. – Preschool Drop-Off begins/Morning Work

9:00 am- Morning Meeting

9:30 a.m. - Structured Center Play (teacher directed)

10:15 a.m. - Gross motor play (outside weather permitting)

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10:45 a.m. – Snack Time

11:15 a.m.- Group Art/Music/Movement Activity

11:45 a.m. – Free Choice Center Play (student choice)

12:05 p.m. – Clean-up & Pack-up

12:15 p.m. – Story Time

12:30 p.m. -Dismissal/Center Closes after last child leaves

Snacks

Snacks are to be provided by parents, and are to be brought in the child’s

bag/lunch box daily. If your child has allergies, we must be notified of this in

writing. Snacks that parents send must consist of the following: Protein

(milk, cheese, or meat), Bread/Grain (bread, graham crackers, goldfish, or

saltines, etc.), Fruit/Veggie. We will need to have a physician's written

instructions describing any foods the child is not permitted to eat/be

near.

We never force a child to finish their snack, but we do encourage each child

to try one or two bites of it. Snacks are expected to be nutritious; i.e. goldfish,

graham crackers, veggies or fruit, etc. Gummies, candy, soda, etc. are not

considered nutritious and will be sent back home with student. We will have

emergency (pre-packaged and individual serving size) snacks available when

necessary. However, if student’s snacks are habitually forgotten, we may

begin to charge for snacks provided by the school.

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Cleanliness / Hygiene

We do our best to maintain strict cleanliness and hygiene standards. Students

wash their hands before and after meals and after toileting. We use paper

towels for drying hands, so students do not have to use the same towel. All

employees are required to wash their hands frequently and also use

antibacterial gel. We will disinfect toilet seats each day/more often, as

necessary.

Fire Drills

We are required by state law to do fire drills bi-monthly. We vary the time of

day to help the staff and children prepare to evacuate the building quickly

and safely. We will not do fire drills when the temperature is below 20

degrees or above 85 degrees.

Toilet Training

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Toilet training is required for admission into our Preschool. More than 1

accident in one week will be considered Non-trained, and admission to

Preschool may be terminated until child is fully toilet trained. We are not a

daycare, and are not equipped for diaper/pull-up changing. We want to give

our students as much time as possible for learning. Continual accidents take

away from your child and other students’ learning time.

Special Needs

Ray of Hope Preschool will make all reasonable modifications to our policies

and practices to accommodate children with special needs, unless to do so

would be a fundamental alteration of our existing program. Each child will be

evaluated on an individual basis to determine eligibility. Due to a small staff

size, students with severe special needs may be better served in another

program. Admission of students is the sole discretion of Ray of Hope

Preschool.

Parental Involvement

There will be times and ways you can get involved in your child's Preschool

experience. You are welcome and encouraged to participate in any or all of

these, after a criminal background check is received. This is for the safety of

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all students. Some examples of ways to be involved include:

● Lending objects for units of study

● Coming and talking about your job, when asked

● Helping your child at home with the concepts we are studying here

(see monthly newsletter)

● Helping your child prepare for "Show and Tell"

● Helping to provide treats or other items for our parties

● Volunteering to read at Story Time

Training & Development

Ray of Hope Preschool has a structured approach for staff, consultant,

and volunteer training and development. The program provides an

orientation to all new staff, consultants, and volunteers that includes, at

a minimum, the goals and underlying philosophy of Ray of Hope

Preschool and the ways in which they are implemented by the program.

A. Ray of Hope Preschool staff will attend the 6 hour Orientation Training

mandated by Kentucky Division of Licensed Child Care. Employees will be

trained and will implement all topics covered in the Orientation Training in

their daily work regularly, routinely, and consistently.

B. The program establishes and implements a structured approach to staff

training and development. This system is designed to help build relationships

among staff and to assist staff in acquiring or increasing the knowledge and

skills needed to fulfill their job responsibilities.

C. At a minimum, this system includes ongoing opportunities for staff to

acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to implement the content of the

Ray of Hope Preschool Program Performance Standards. This program

includes:

i) Methods for identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect

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that comply with applicable State and local laws using so far as

possible, a helpful, rather than a punitive attitude toward abusing

or neglecting parents and other caretakers; and

ii) Methods for planning for successful child and family

transitions to and from the Ray of Hope Preschool program.

Activities / Curriculum

Our main objective is to have fun, improve social skills, and encourage

creative expression. We will utilize a variety of activities to accomplish this

goal. Free play, computer programs, reading, arts and crafts, music/singing,

dancing, dramatic play/pretend, puzzles, and educational TV/videos are just

some of the activities we will be doing. We will be using the “Horizons

Curriculum” to help direct and develop student learning. Additionally, we

will be designing custom thematic units to complement and enhance the

learning curriculum.

Music helps to develop young brains and will play a strong role in day-to-day

activities. We may have special music activities and may also play music

during other activities, for example, during arts and crafts or snack times.

Some of the music we will be using may include, classical, children's songs

(by a variety of artists), foreign language tapes and others.

Television will be used as a learning tool. We usually watch no more than ½

hour per day, and some days none at all. The exception will be special

occasion days/days when weather prevents outdoor play. Viewing will be

limited to PBS and child-friendly, educational-style videos, such as Veggie-

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tales, The Letter Factory, etc. We carefully screen everything the children

watch and watch along with the children. We avoid any type of graphic

images, potentially frightening images, unpleasant language, or anything of

that nature, as we believe that young children are extremely impressionable.

We prefer to err on the conservative side when choosing appropriate viewing.

Preschool Rules

There are certain Preschool Rules that all children will be taught and

expected to follow. This is for the safety and well-being of everyone.

Classroom rules will be posted in the Classroom. In addition we realize that

we must expect a certain amount of wear and tear where children are

concerned; however, we do not want to have our school "demolished".

There will be no running permitted in the center. Hitting, pushing, biting,

grabbing, kicking, spitting, or pinching other children/infants/adults will

NOT be allowed. No standing or climbing on chairs or tables. There will be

no use of obscene, derogatory or disrespectful language.

Children may not walk around the school with food or drinks. Respectful

treatment of other people and all property, toys, and furniture is expected.

Willful destruction of property will be charged to the parent at the cost to

replace the item. Please support us in the enforcement of these rules, in order

to create a better environment for all (see Departure and Arrival).

No smoking is permitted on the premises as per state law; this includes

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parents and staff.

Reporting Child Abuse or Sexual Abuse Requirements

As a Preschool, we are mandated reporters to the Department of Human

Services if we feel a child is being abused or neglected. All children that

come to Ray of Hope Preschool with injuries will have them logged into the

child's file.

Ray of Hope Preschool has a plan for responding to suspected or known

child abuse or sexual abuse as defined in 45 CFR 1340.2(d) whether it occurs

inside or outside of the program.

PROCEDURE:

A. This obligation is legal and may not be transferred to someone

else.

B. The law requires the person suspecting child abuse to report it.

C. Employees may call the Child Protective Services Office for

interpretations of circumstances.

D. Employees may choose to remain anonymous in filing the report.

This request shall be honored unless the case goes to court

proceedings.

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Indoor / Outdoor Play

Indoor play: We provide a variety of age-appropriate toys/equipment for

indoor play. Toys may be rotated or placed temporarily out of use so that the

children do not become bored. During free play times, each child may select

one or two things at a time to play with. They will be shown how to put those

things away before selecting something else.

Outdoor play: We will be playing outdoors every day that weather permits.

Please make sure that your student is appropriately dressed (see

Clothing/Attire section) for outdoor play at all times. Our activities will

include walks, play equipment, water play (water table), and others. We do

not go outside when the temperature is below 20 degrees (including wind

chill), or above 90 degrees (including heat index). We are mandated by state

law to take the children outside. Parents who feel that their child is not well

enough to participate in outdoor activities must keep them out of daycare

until they are able to participate in all activities.

Discipline

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Behavior Management

Positive Reinforcement is considered to be the preferred mode of managing

behavior. However, Aversive techniques (i.e. redirection, modeling, time-out,

ignoring) are also options for managing behavior.

When these techniques are unsuccessful and a child is becoming a threat to

himself/herself, other students, the teaching staff, volunteers, or property, the

child’s guardian/s will be called to take the child home for the day.

If the previously mentioned behavior is recurrent or habitual, the child may

be removed from the program and no longer eligible to attend the preschool.

A. Decreasing Behavior

1. Ignoring

Probably the simplest and most effective way of decreasing

behavior is ignoring that behavior. Ignoring involves

rearranging the consequences of behavior such that neither

attention nor any rewarding conditions are provided for the child

after he performs the behavior. Ignoring means not coaxing, not

chasing, not scolding, and not looking. Along with ignoring the

undesirable behavior, appropriate behavior will be

acknowledged using positive reinforcement.

2. Time Out

Time-out generally means removing the child from an activity

for a short period of time until he/she is calmer; therefore, it is

important not to interact or attend to the child in any way during

“time-out.” Time-out might be sitting in a chair or bench. This

technique is most effective when used for short periods of time.

A rule for this guidance is one minute for each year of age.

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When using time-out, it is best to begin with a short time limit

of no more than two minutes.

3. Loss of Privileges: considered last option and will be

accompanied by a note home to parents explaining the child’s

behavior and the steps that were taken to decrease that

behavior.

This does NOT include snack time/outdoor play time! Loss of

privileges may include: not be able to participate in special job of the day

(i.e. line leader, teacher’s helper, time keeper, etc.), waiting to choose last

for outdoor/indoor play.

The use of corporal punishment and total or extended isolation as

disciplinary measures are forbidden.

A. Corporal punishment is defined as the use of physical force as a

discipline measure, which includes, but is not limited to

spanking, slapping, pulling of hair, pinching, etc. Isolation refers

to separating the child from normal association with classroom

activities as a punishment measure. Isolation includes, but is not

restricted to, the classroom when other children go to play, or

restricting the child from snack with his/her classmates.

B. Physical punishment and total isolation are not consistent with

the Ray of Hope Preschool Performance Standards. The

Standards define goals as increased social competence,

establishment of patterns and expectations of sources of the child,

and the enhancement of dignity and self-worth within the child.

C. Isolation in which the child is left totally unattended is

unacceptable. If it is necessary to isolate a child from a group,

adult supervision will be maintained and the isolation period will

be minimal. Performance Standards prohibit the use of snacks as

punishment.

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D. Conduct of pre-school children which disrupts normal classroom

activities on a frequent or extended basis may be indicative of

physical or emotional problems which Ray of Hope Preschool

shall take steps to address.

Illness

Ray of Hope Preschool is a "well-child facility". At no time do we provide

care for sick students. Students are not able to learn and grasp new concepts

when they are sick, and may spread illness to other students. The following

illness policies will be strictly enforced, for the health, well-being and safety

of all concerned.

Sick Child Policy: Under no circumstances may a parent bring a sick child to

preschool, if the child shows any signs of illness (see SYMPTOMS

REQUIRING REMOVAL OF CHILD FROM CHILD CARE), or is unable

to participate in the normal routine and regular preschool program. Sick

children will expose all children and staff members who they come in contact

with. These people can in turn expose the other children. Sick children want

care from their parents in the comfort of their own homes. If other children

become ill due to exposure to your sick child, either because he/she was

returned to daycare before full recovery or because he/she was not picked up

promptly upon notice of becoming ill; other parents will be unnecessarily

inconvenienced. Because this is disruptive to other children and their

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families, your cooperation on this issue is extremely important.

Every effort is taken to reduce the spread of illness by encouraging

handwashing and other sanitary practices (see Cleanliness and Hygiene).

If your child is unable to participate in the normal activities of the

preschool (including being able to play outside), then your child MUST

stay home.

Students will be visually screened when they arrive in the morning. In the

event a child becomes ill and needs to be picked up, the parent(s) will be

called and are expected to come pick the child up within one hour (60

minutes). If the parent(s) cannot be reached, or have not arrived within an

hour, the emergency contact person will be called and asked to come pick the

child up.

For the benefit of our staff and other children in our care, a sick child will not

be permitted to return to preschool for 24 hours after condition has returned

to normal. The child may return 24 - 48 hours (depending upon the illness)

after they have received the first dose of an antibiotic. If a child receives an

antibiotic for an ear infection, he/she may return to preschool immediately if

he/she has been free of other symptoms mentioned for at least 24 hours. If

you aren't sure about whether or not to bring your child, please call your

onsite director to discuss it. Allergy related symptoms, and non-

communicable illnesses do not require exclusion if you have a note from

your doctor.

Symptoms requiring removal of child from preschool:

● Fever: Fever is defined as having a temperature of 100°F or higher

taken under the arm, 101°F taken orally. (A child needs to be fever free

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for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to Preschool; that means

the child is fever free without the aid of Tylenol®, or any other fever

reducing substance.)

● Fever AND sore throat, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, earache, irritability,

or confusion.

● Diarrhea: runny, watery, bloody stools, or 2 or more loose stools

within last 4 hours.

● Vomiting: 2 or more times in a 24 hour period. Note: please do not

bring your child if they have vomited in the night.

● Breathing trouble, sore throat, swollen glands, loss of voice, hacking or

continuous coughing.

● Runny nose (other than clear), draining eyes or ears.

● Frequent scratching of body or scalp, lice, rash, or any other spots that

resemble childhood diseases, including ringworm.

● Child is irritable, continuously crying, or requires more attention than

we can provide without hurting the health, safety or well-being of the

other children in our care.

Just a note: Many times our preschool may get blamed for the illness of a

child, meaning that we have "allowed" sick children to come here. Parents

may not stop to think that when sick children are brought to our school, our

entire staff is also at risk of exposure. How would you feel if another parent

brought their sick child and exposed your child? We STRESS this again -- if

you are not sure whether or not it is okay to bring your child, please call

ahead to ask us. We may require a doctor's decision as to whether or not the

child is contagious. We appreciate you cooperation in this matter.

Medications

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I. OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE:

1. No medication may be given by any staff person unless there is

written permission from the parent or guardian.

2. Permission must give specific directions for the administration of

that medicine, such as what time of day and how much medicine is to

be given, etc.

3. Permission must be specific for that medication; permission for one

medication will not serve as permission for another medication.

4. All emergency medication must be stored in a locked storage area

out of reach of the children.

5. Emergency medication must be kept out of the reach of children, but

accessible to administering staff.

6. Children should NEVER carry or bring medication to the classroom.

It is the parent’s or guardian’s responsibility to see that the

medication is delivered to the appropriate staff person.

7. All permissions and directions for medication are to be on file in the

child’s classroom.

• NO medication will be given at the Ray of Hope Preschool

without signed permission.

• All medicine, prescription and over-the-counter medicine, must

be in its original container. • The medication label should include: name of student, name of

medicine, dosage of medicine, times to be administered, and the

prescribing physician. • Doctor’s orders are required for over-the-counter

medication, such as Motrin, Tylenol, skin cream, etc.

It is best for all medications to be given at home if at all possible. Usually the child’s doctor will arrange the medication schedule so that

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medication can be given at home, if you request that he/she do so.

• do so. In the event that both the regular teacher and instructional assistant

are absent from the classroom and a medication needs to be

administered to a child, the regular substitute (trained in health

services, i.e. CPR and First Aid) will administer the medication to

the child.

In the event that a child is given a medication later than the regularly

scheduled time, the time administered will be documented, and the

parent will be notified. The child will be observed for any adverse

effects.

**Any exceptions to the above rules must be cleared by the Program

Director.

NOTE: All medicines must be in their original container with

pharmacist's or manufacturer's label, child's name, dosage instructions,

current date, name of medication, and times to be administered clearly

written.

Medication Administration

Ray of Hope Preschool establishes and maintains written procedures

regarding the administration, handling and storage of medication for

every child.

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE:

The procedures include:

(a) Labeling and storing, under lock and key, and refrigerating,

if necessary, all medications, including those required for staff and

volunteers; emergency medications will be kept out of the reach of

children but accessible to staff;

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(b) Designating trained staff member(s) or to administer,

handle and store child medications;

(c) Obtaining physicians' instructions and written parent or

guardian authorizations for all medications administered by

staff;

(d) Maintaining an individual record of all medications

dispensed, and reviewing the record regularly with the

child's parents;

(e) Recording changes in a child's behavior that have

implications for drug dosage or type, and assisting parents

in communicating with their physician regarding the effect

of the medication on the child; and

(f) Ensuring that appropriate staff members can demonstrate

proper administering, handling, and storing medication,

including the use of any necessary equipment to administer

medication.

Incident Report

In the event of an injury during school hours, an injury report will be filed

and sent home for parents to review, with a copy placed in student file.

The report will appear as follows:

Ray of Hope Preschool – Incident Report

___Child ___ Employee ___ Volunteer

Name of Injured:________________________ Date: ________________

Time: ___________

Facility: _______________________________ Phone

________________________________

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Address:

______________________________________________________________

_________

Position:

______________________________________________________________

_________

Date of Injury: _______________________ Time of Injury:

______________________________

Injury reported by: _________________________ reported to:

__________________________

Location of Incident: Classroom _____ Playground _____ Bathroom

_____ Sidewalk ______ Parking Lot _____ Hallway _____ Parent

Room ______ Gross Motor Room _____ Play Field _____

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Injured Body Part: Eyes _____ Ears _____ Nose _____ Mouth _____ Teeth

_____ Throat/Neck ____

Hand/Arm/Elbow _____ Trunk/Back _____ Groin/Leg/Knee/Ankle _____

Head _____ Other _____

Type of Injury: Bruise/Swelling _____ Cut/Laceration/Scrape _____

Sprain/Strain _____ Impaled Object _____ Physical Trauma to Head, Neck

or Spine _____ Breathing Diff. _____

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Other _____

Parent/Guardian Notified via: Telephone _____ Direct Contact _____

Report taken home by child ____

Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure:

Did “direct contact” with blood or other potentially infectious body fluids

occur? Yes ________ No _______

If yes, describe contact and which fluids:

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Staff Signature: ________________________________________________

Date: __________________

Program Director Signature: _____________________________________

Date: __________________

**Please fill out details of Incident and attach paper to report**

Medical Emergencies

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Minor bumps and scratches are inevitable, but we make every effort to keep

the children safe through supervision and childproofing. Minor injuries

receive appropriate first aid, and if an emergency injury or illness occurs, you

will be contacted as soon as possible. If necessary, your child will be taken to

the nearest hospital where you will be asked to meet us. If you are not going

to be at your usual place of employment, or at home, please make sure that

we have a number where you can be reached.

Parents are responsible for all costs involved in emergency medical

treatment, including emergency transportation, if required. The owners and

staff of Ray of Hope Preschool will not be held liable for any sickness/injury

of either parent/guardian or child while on these premises.

Termination Policies

We reserve the right to terminate a child for the following reasons (but not

limited to):

● Failure to pay

● Routinely late picking up/dropping off your student

● Failure to complete the required forms

● Lack of parental cooperation

● Failure of child to adjust to the Preschool after a reasonable amount of

time

● Physical or verbal abuse of any person or property

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● Our inability to meet the child's needs

● Lack of compliance with handbook regulations

● Serious illness of child

We appreciate as much advance notice as possible when terminating, and

will give the same courtesy in return. Parents are required to give two weeks

written notice when they decide to terminate admission. The two weeks will

be paid in full, regardless of whether or not the child is in attendance.

We will give two weeks’ notice of termination for which full tuition is due,

whether or not the child is in attendance. The provider reserves the right to

give written notice of immediate termination where there are extreme

circumstances that affect the well-being of the provider or other children in

attendance.

Anyone who terminates admission and has a balance that is outstanding will

need to have the account settled within 30 days. Late fees will apply. (see

Tuition/Payment Procedures)

Revisions and Contract

There will be a yearly revision to this handbook and the accompanying

contract. All families will sign a new contract each year. We reserve the right

to make changes in rates and policies as we deem necessary. You will be

notified, in writing, of any changes that may occur. Every attempt will be

made to give at least two weeks notice of changes.

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Ray of Hope Preschool Parent Signature Page

I have read, understand, and agree to abide by all the aforementioned

policies and procedures from Ray of Hope Preschool. I understand that my

non-adherence to these agreed upon policies and procedure may result in the

termination of my child’s/children’s attendance at Ray of Hope Preschool.

I understand that if issues arise that can’t be solved via in-person/phone

communication, I may schedule an appointment/have one scheduled, to meet

with the school’s director, staff, mediator, and or president, in order to

resolve said issues, depending on severity.

Parent/Guardian Signature:

______________________________________________________________

Date:

______________________________________________________________